Toastmaster Rantschler,

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This past Saturday, District Leaders assembled to pass the torch, install new officers, and kickoff the new Program Year for District 2. Reflecting preparation that commenced before their new roles took effect, our Trio conducted an initiation that creates a strong foundation for success in 2025 to 2026.

Joined by Division Directors and Area Directors, District Leaders began the process of being unified, member-centric, and future ready. Planning for our clubs was the priority. Meeting old friends and making new ones previewed the opportunity our newly aligned District 2 has to come 2Gether.

In the coming weeks, you will hear form our District Leaders. Be prepared to share your wins and woes. Highlight your people and processes. Optimize the Toastmasters promise for members and guests. Be ready to collaborate, create, and celebrate the awesome year ahead of us!

For more photos from the event, be sure to check out District 2's LinkedIn and Facebook accounts this week!

Marty Varela, PRM

NEW CLUB CHARTERING

! CONGRATULATIONS !

We are thrilled to announce the Advanced Club Sparkling Synergists, CB-28679046 in District 2, Division D, Area 44 was Chartered effective 30 June 2025.  

District 2 extends a warm welcome to all the members of Sparkling Synergists Toastmasters! Cheers to the many speeches, leadership opportunities, and personal growth ahead!

Huge kudos to the Roxanne Spring, 2024-2025 Club Growth Director and Lynn Chapman, 2024-2025 Club Mentor Chair for coordinating and Sponsoring the Sparkling Synergists to charter so smoothly and timely to end the 2024-2025 Toastmasters year.  

Welcome and may your spark continue to burn brightly

Joanna Tavera, CGD

A club officer has a very important role in Toastmasters International. By providing leadership and support, you foster a positive environment that’s conducive to members’ personal and professional growth, allowing them to achieve their Toastmasters education program goals.

Start off the new Toastmasters year with the right tools to have a thriving club on the path to Distinguished status!

More training dates have been added! See below!

THE SECRET OF CLUB SUCCESS

John L Beckley, author of books on communication and management, is quoted for saying, "People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan." At the moment it may seem as if the new Toastmaster year has just started, but soon the last days of summer will be upon us. Followed by the holiday season, speech contests, and before we know it... the presentation of distinguished clubs walking across the stage with their club banners at the district conference.

A Club Success Plan is your not-so-secret roadmap to the Hall of Fame walk at the District Conference on May 16th, 2026. The other secret to club success is tracking and celebrating your achievements monthly.

Here is my Club Success Checklist for July.

☑️ Determine education goals for each member

☑️ Club officers attend training (see d2tm.org/calendar/ for available dates)

☑️ Members approve Club Success Plan & Budget

☑️ Designate Club's proxy holder for Annual Business Meeting.

If it's been a LOOONG time since your club drafted a Club Success Plan, or you need assistance uploading your plan into Toastmasters International, the Roxanne Spring, DTM, and the Distinguished Club & DTM Committee is offering support. Check out the d2tm.org/calendar/ and register for:

Club Officer Training - Club Success Plan training sessions offered weekly throughout July and August

Road to Distinguished Support office hours, offered every Wednesday 6-7 PM Alaska, 7-8 PM Pacific.

Find a date that works for you! Register here

I look forward to seeing your celebratory stage walk at the District 2 Conference May 16, 2026.

Roberta Craig, PQD

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to set your ideas loose and watch them spark a wildfire of excitement across an entire district? This is your sign.

Your 2025–2026 Public Relations Team is on the hunt for bold, curious, and creative minds ready to make some noise! PR isn’t just a role—it’s a playground for your imagination and a launchpad for your leadership. Want to craft stories that inspire? Design visuals that grab attention? Plan campaigns that get people talking? You’re in the right place.

There’s a spot waiting for you—whether you’re a seasoned storyteller, a social media maven, or just someone ready to try something new and fun. We’ve got several roles open, and every single one comes with growth, support, and the thrill of knowing your work helps our members shine.

This is your chance to shape how our district connects with the world. Ready to unleash your creativity? Ready to try something new? Ready to make an impact?

Reach out to our Public Relations Committee, today—let’s make some magic happen together!

QUIET SPARKS FOR CURIOUS MINDS

THE MYTH OF HAVING IT ALL TOGETHER

Here’s something I wish someone had told me sooner: no one

has it all together. Not really.

We see polished speeches. Flawless graphics. Poised leaders

delivering powerhouse presentations like they were born with a mic in hand and

a teleprompter for a brain. And maybe, for a moment, we wonder…

“Am I the only one barely holding it together with sticky notes and glue?”

Absolutely not.

Half the time, we’re just hoping no one notices the slides

are out of order, the coffee’s gone cold, and we may or may not be wearing real

pants.

The myth of having it all together whispers that if you

don’t feel confident, you must not be confident. That if you

stumble, you should sit down.

But growth? It’s messy. It shows up in the wobble. In the deep breath before you click “unmute.” In the moment you almost canceled — but didn’t.

Perfection is a myth. Failure is just feedback. And

sticky notes? They’re a leadership tool.

If no one’s said it lately…: I see you. I’m proud of you. You belong here.

Now take a breath, and let the sparks fly.

Josh Hindman, PRM 2024-2025

VPPR TIPS to Produce Your Powerful Presence™ – No. 1

by Kelly Fallucca, VPPR, Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters

Hello fellow Toastmasters,

When District 2 PR Manager Marty Varela, DTM, asked if I would contribute a regular column to the Starburst, I jumped at the chance.

Why? Marty and I share a belief that is more relevant than ever: 

What worked yesterday may not work today.

Clubs across the district are working hard to create attractive websites, videos, and social content—but let’s be honest, it’s not always easy.

In this kickoff column, I am sharing my core philosophy behind what we will explore together this Toastmasters year. This is not just theory—it is action. I may not have all the answers, but together we will dive into bold topics and discover practical tools to become true club growth Magic Makers!

The AI Revolution is not coming…it is here!

If we are not creating dynamic, branded content, we risk falling behind. People want to join clubs that feel modern, energized, and forward-focused—not stuck in the past.

My Mission: Produce Your Powerful Presence™

In my career and in Toastmasters, I am dedicated to helping people build personal presence—because it is not just about how you show up in a room. It is about how you show up everywhere: online meetings, on stages, and in leadership.

Your presence speaks before you do. Your image, your voice, your message, your content, and your leadership are all part of two powerful, aligned brands—yours and Toastmasters’. When that alignment clicks… people will be inspired to join your club after just one visit!

Topics We Will Explore Together

Following is a preview of the topics I will be sharing with you in future issues:

✅ Stop the Scroll: Eye-Catching Visuals 

✅ Building Cohesive Personal & Club Presence 

✅ Short-Form Video with a Hook 

✅ Using AI to Boost Content Creation

✅ Green Screen Like a Pro

✅ Video Marketing Strategies 

✅ Leadership Reimagined

Got questions or a topic you would love covered?

Email me at: k@kellyafallucca.com

Subject: Starburst Request

I would love to hear from you!

Let’s create the kind of presence that draws people

in and grows our clubs.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters Website

Public Speaking Northwest Toastmasters YouTube Channel

Sparkle & Shine, Friends! 

Kelly

Notice an outstanding Toastmaster?

Nominate them to be featured here!

As our District transitions through an important realignment this month, we want to keep you in the loop about what this means for you and your club. Between July 1 and July 28, World Headquarters will be completing tasks that impact club bases, membership records, and Distinguished programs.

During this time, clubs will not be able to add new members or process membership payments through Club Central, and members using Self-Pay will not be able to submit dues payments either. Because these updates affect how our records are tracked, you may notice a short delay in presenting education awards or celebrating charterversaries until the end of this month.

Your club officers can still conduct all other club business, and once processing is complete by July 28, we’ll be back on track to honor your achievements and milestones properly!

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move through this exciting transition. Together, we’re building a stronger District for all!

Questions? Reach out anytime at clubofficers@toastmasters.org.

CHAMPIONS COACHING CHAMPIONS

Watch Greatness Get Even Greater!

Two world Champions. Two Semifinalists. One shot at the World Championship. This isn't just coaching—it's a masterclass in transformation.

Experience the behind-the-scenes brilliance of elite speaker coaching. See how the pros shape not just speeches, but champions.

Tuesday, July 22, 7—9pm PDT, 6-8pm AK.

Coaches Roger Caesar, DTM, 3rd place in 2021 WCPS, and Fursey Gotuaco, audience favorite in the 2024 Finals  coach Edward Teh, Semifinalist from District 89 and  Mas Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Semifinalist from District 51.

Hosted by Skwim Toastmasters. Register and get more info!

Questions? Email president@skwimtm.org

Is your club holding a special event? Celebrating a milestone? Or want people to know of a significant upcoming meeting they should join? Want to include your post here for next week's newsletter?

Fill out this form to submit your post request

2025/2026 Starburst Submission Guidelines

We're excited to share our guidelines for submitting articles to Starburst, our official District 2 newsletter. Your club's special activities deserve the spotlight, and we're here to help you shine!

Guidelines for Article Submissions:

• Topic: Focus on club special events.
• Word Limit: Try to limit posts to 200 words or less.
• Images: You may include one image with your article. Ensure it follows the Toastmasters Brand Manual (You may have to login to the Toastmasters main Site to access) and contains minimal text. We're happy to help create one if needed. If the image doesn't meet TM guidelines, we'll work with you or recreate it if we don't hear back.
• Contact Information: All articles must include your club website and/or a contact email for more information.
• Event Posts: Submit up to three consecutive posts for a single event.
• Deadline to Submit: 5:00 PM on the Friday before the upcoming Monday Starburst release.

Submission Process:

• Use the submission form to send us your article requests.
• We look forward to showcasing your amazing events in Starburst!

If you have any questions or need more clarity, feel free to reach out to Marty Varela

Starburst Suggestion Box

Have a Starburst suggestion? Please check out our Starburst Suggestion Box (only 5 questions), to help us improve the Starburst Newsletter!

This newsletter was edited by - Marty Varela, Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is for the sole use of Toastmasters members for Toastmasters business only. It is not to be used for solicitation and distribution of non-Toastmasters materials or information.